Literal



GRE

解释

GRE 红宝书

• adj. 字面上的, 精确的; 忠实原义的
• ［英］ adj. 字面上的, 精确的 ( accurate)
• ［记］ liter ( 文字) +al -> 按照字面意思的 -> 忠实原义的
• ［同］ 同根词: literacy ( 识字) ; literary ( 文学上的)

Webster Collegiate

I. adjective

• Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin litteralis, from Latin, of a letter, from littera letter
• Date: 14th century
• 1.
  • a. according with the letter of the scriptures
  • b. adhering to fact or to the ordinary construction or primary meaning of a term or expression ; actual <liberty in the literal sense is impossible — B. N. Cardozo>
  • c. free from exaggeration or embellishment <the literal truth>
  • d. characterized by a concern mainly with facts <a very literal man>
• 2. of, relating to, or expressed in letters
• 3. reproduced word for word ; exact, verbatim <a literal translation>
• ? literality noun
• ? literalness noun

II. noun

• Date: 1622
• a small error usually of a single letter (as in writing)

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